Director, U of A Yuma Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Initiatives

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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University Initiatives Leadership

• Provides
  strategic leadership and oversight with developing and implementing U of A Yuma
  strategic short and long-term goals and initiatives with university leaders to
  advance our vision for academic, research and community engagement programs in
  Yuma.
• Lead and
  advise senior university leadership on regional trends, risks, opportunities,
  and strategic investments related to Yuma operations.
• Collaborate
  and work with internal and external partners to advance the implementation of
  University of Arizona Yuma-focused initiatives and projects, ensuring alignment
  with the university's mission and compliance requirements.
• Conduct
  ongoing needs assessments across all University of Arizona units in Yuma and
  provide advice to UA leadership related to strategy, policy and organizational
  effectiveness in Yuma.
• Accountable
  for tracking and analyzing outcomes across academic, research, workforce, and
  community initiatives in Yuma to generate insights that inform continuous
  improvement and strategic planning.
• Develop
  and lead a cross-functional team in Yuma within a matrix organization of staff
  and faculty that have reporting lines connected to leaders in Tucson.
• Encourage
  a positive working environment in Yuma that stimulates growth, opportunity,
  innovation and collaboration with campus partnerships.
• Guide and
  support the identification, development, and implementation of research
  partnerships and grant-funded projects that leverage Yuma's agricultural,
  environmental, healthcare and community assets, ensuring alignment with
  university-wide research priorities and compliance frameworks.

Academic-Focused Leadership

• Strengthen
  and align University of Arizona academic programs in Yuma by identifying
  opportunities, addressing resource gaps, and informing funding priorities,
  while fostering cross-unit coordination and advancing partnerships and
  innovative educational pathways with regional high schools and community
  colleges (e.g., Arizona Western College and Imperial Valley colleges) to
  support student success and meet evolving workforce needs.
• Work with
  deans, department heads, faculty, U of A Yuma Academic Director leads, and the
  Office of the Provost to ensure excellent, efficient and effective delivery of
  academic programs.
• Lead the
  development and implementation of academic systems to support a thriving and
  sustained physical campus presence and enrollment for the University of Arizona
  Yuma.
• Lead and
  support the University of Arizona- Yuma staff in the daily coordination and
  problem-solving regarding academic programs and student success.
• Collaborate
  with University Analytics and Institutional Research (UAIR) to track, analyze,
  and report student outcomes including enrollment, persistence, graduation,
  transfer success, and job placement-to drive continuous improvement and align
  programs with workforce needs.
• Ensure
  equitable access, retention, and completion of academic programs for various student populations in the Yuma region.
• Collaborate
  in budget planning and resource allocation to sustain and grow academic
  programs and identify and pursue external funding opportunities (grants,
  partnerships).
• Oversee
  operational coordination between Yuma and main campus units to ensure seamless
  academic delivery.
• Support
  infrastructure planning (space, scheduling, technology-enabled learning
  environments).

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Serve as a
  University of Arizona's key point of contact with our strategic educational,
  research, industry, and community partners in Yuma.
• Work with
  Yuma based U of A affiliates to build and strengthen partnerships with state,
  county, and city officials; community organizations, particularly growers and
  military partners; health and corporate partners; and other key stakeholders to
  advance initiatives.
• Increase
  the university's visibility, impact and reputation in the Yuma County region.
• Facilitate
  strong partnerships with university leaders, deans, department heads, chairs,
  and directors, faculty, governance bodies, and administrative units to align
  priorities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to effectively communicate across populations,
  including students, faculty, staff, community and industry partners,
  policymakers, and university administrators.
• Leadership
  skills in cross-functional, collaborative environments.
• Change
  management skills.
• Proven
  ability to engage with senior executives and provide actionable, high-impact
  data insights.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Minimum of 9 years of related work experience, including 5 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Experience leading a team, project, program, or function is required.

• Master's degree, Ph.D. or professional degree in a related field.
  
• Experience working in municipal planning, community development, public administration, or related field and in complex project management, research, university systems, academics, land grant, science/STEM.
  
• Experience in a large, complex public university setting.
  
• Experience working with agricultural communities and agricultural-related initiatives.
  
• Experience developing, acquiring, and managing physical, digital for an organization or community.
  
• Change management experience.
  
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives, assessing resource needs and navigating complex institutional environments.